SPORTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

EPL table Lukaku, Osman lift Everton English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Arsenal 9 7 1 1 20 9 22 Villa 0 Liverpool 9 6 2 1 17 8 20 Southampton 9 5 3 1 10 3 18 Everton 9 5 3 1 14 10 18 Chelsea 8 5 2 1 14 5 17 Everton 2 Man City 8 5 1 2 20 9 16 Tottenham 8 5 1 2 8 5 16 Man Utd 9 4 2 3 14 12 14 Hull City 8 3 2 3 7 9 11 BIRMINGHAM: Goals by Romelu Lukaku and Newcastle 8 3 2 3 11 14 11 Leon Osman gave Everton their fifth win in six Swansea 8 3 1 4 12 11 10 games but only their second away win in 13 West Brom 9 2 4 3 8 10 10 matches with a 2-0 success in the Premier League clash with Aston Villa yesterday. Aston Villa 9 3 1 5 9 12 10 Lukaku’s fifth of the season, since he was tak- Fulham 9 3 1 5 9 12 10 en on loan from Chelsea, and Osman’s goal Cardiff 9 2 3 4 8 13 9 saw Roberto Martinez’s side move into third West Ham 8 2 2 4 8 8 8 spot, four points off leaders Arsenal, although Stoke City 9 2 2 5 6 10 8 either Chelsea or Manchester City could go Norwich 9 2 2 5 6 13 8 back above them depending on the outcome Crystal Palace 9 1 0 8 6 19 3 of their game today. Sunderland 8 0 1 7 5 20 1 Victory also took Everton level with Villa in their head to head record with 72 wins apiece from their 197 meetings. The first-half was end-to-end action with Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard saving his side from going in behind at the break. The American saved bril- liantly in the eighth minute from Christian Benteke’s penalty, awarded when the Belgian striker went down under a challenge from Irishman Seamus Coleman. Benteke, one of Villa’s few shining lights last season as they battled against relegation, BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa’s US goalkeeper Brad Guzan (right) and Dutch midfielder Leandro Bacuna (left) fend off had a chance later in the half to make up for Everton’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (center) during the English Premier League football match yesterday. — AFP failing to convert the penalty as he was released one on one on Howard, but again Guzan, however, was beaten a few as the second-half failed to replicate the out. Osman, who had come on on the the goalkeeper came off better. Everton, minutes later by England midfielder fireworks of the first-half. The 20-year- hour, then scored one of his own, set up though, stemmed the one way traffic and Ross Barkley’s long range effort which old, who may well lead the Belgian by former Villa stalwart Gareth Barry, as almost scored a goal through Lukaku, but his came back off the bar. It was to be strikeforce with Benteke at the World he put the ball past Guzan from the point blank header was tipped over by Lukaku, however, who was to break the Cup, scored a super goal after being edge of the area.— AFP Howard’s compatriot Brad Guzan. deadlock eventually in the 68th minute teed up by substitute Osman 16 yards Suarez bags treble as Reds rout Albion

Liverpool 4

West Brom 1

LIVERPOOL: Luis Suarez fired a hat-trick : ’s FC Seoul Dejan Damjanovic (center) fights for the as Liverpool moved up to second place ball against China’s Guangzhou Evergrande Zheng Zhi (right) as Zhang in the Premier League with a 4-1 rout of Linpeng watches during the first leg of the 2013 Asian Champions League West Bromwich Albion yesterday. final at yesterday. — AP Uruguay forward Suarez struck twice ear- ly in the first half at Anfield and complet- Damjanovic strikes late to ed his treble soon after half-time. Daniel Sturridge stole a little of Suarez’s thunder earn Seoul first-leg draw with the goal of the day, a superb chipped strike in the closing stages after SEOUL: Dejan Damjanovic’s late striker , the top scorer in the Albion’s James Morrison had reduced the equalizer earned FC Seoul a 2-2 home tournament with 13 goals, wasted deficit from the penalty spot. Suarez’s draw against big-spending Chinese two chances towards the end to grab fourth hat-trick for Liverpool was his first champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the winner for Guangzhou while at Anfield and it lifted Brendan Rodgers’ the first leg of the AFC Champions Damjanovic shot straight into the team above Chelsea into second place League final yesterday. Guangzhou, hands of Zeng from a one-on-one sit- and within two points of leaders Arsenal, coached by World Cup-winning uation in injury time. although the Blues would pass the Reds Italian , appeared to be A win for Guangzhou, who will on goal difference with a victory over heading for victory until Montenegro host the return leg on Nov 9, will Manchester City today. striker Damjanovic slotted in a cross make Lippi the first coach to win With 36 goals in his last 46 matches from Sergio Escudero with seven min- both the UEFA and Asian Champions and 57 in 101 Liverpool appearances utes remaining. League titles. “Two away goals are a overall, it is easy to see why Liverpool The same pair also combined in very important factor for us, it’s an refused to budge when Arsenal tried to the Korean champions’ opening goal advantage, but there’s still another sign Suarez in the close-season. Initially it in the 11th minute when Escudero 90 minutes to play,” said the 65-year- appeared the day may have been one of calmly placed the ball past old Lippi, who won the European controversy for Suarez as his ninth- LIVERPOOL: West Bromwich Albion’s Gareth McAuley (second right) out-jumps Liverpool’s Luis Suarez (right) during Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng Champions League with Juventus 17 minute dive in the area after tussling their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield yesterday. — AP after being set up by Damjanovic. The years ago. “I believe we caused a lot with Billy Jones resulted in West Brom Chinese side equalized in the 29th of problems for their defense, the captain Jonas Olsson remonstrating with footwork his second in the 17th when he curled a shot over after the far corner. Sturridge crashed a minute, much to the disappointment kind of chances that usually we the Uruguayan. Within three minutes minute was more instinctive. Lucas Leiva, Suarez and Steven shot against the bar as Liverpool of the packed house at the Seoul score. “Some players showed they Olsson found himself a mere bystander Having laid off the ball to Aly Gerrard had combined on the edge kept their foot on the gas. Albion World Cup Stadium, when Brazilian weren’t up to their usual capabilities, as he was left trailing by Suarez’s superb Cissokho he continued his run to of a congested penalty area. won a penalty in the 66th minute headed in a corner for his fifth but I don’t like to call out opening goal. meet the on-loan Valencia defend- Sturridge bent a free-kick just off after Cissokho was adjudged to goal of the tournament. names.”Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo, Picking up the ball in the inside-right er’s first-time cross with a bullet target and Suarez had a shot have fouled Jones and Scottish mid- China international Gao Lin made who played for the national team at channel, Suarez skipped past Claudio header from long-range. deflected behind before the fielder Morrison stepped up to con- it 2-1 for Guangzhou, who are trying the 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals, Yacob before nutmegging Olsson so per- Jordan Henderson, whose Uruguayan completed his hat-trick vert the spot-kick. But it didn’t alter to become the country’s first winner was still optimistic of a good show- fectly the defender was still turning movement and powerful running in the 55th minute. the outcome as England striker of the region’s premier club tourna- ing in the return leg. “We made a few round as the forward beat Boaz Myhill in behind strikers made a mockery Gerrard swung in a free-kick from Sturridge’s inch-perfect chip from ment, by deftly diverting in a low small mistakes and we conceded two with an angled shot. If that goal was a of Alex Ferguson’s recent criticism the left and the striker jumped to 20 yards out restored the three-goal cross just before the hour. Brazilian goals.—Reuters product of the South American’s nifty of his gait, almost made it three flick a head and divert the ball into cushion in the 77th minute.— AFP Old boy Marshall Southampton blank Fulham The Saints’ success has been built Pochettino’s side continued to threat- frustrates Norwich on a rock-solid defensive foundation en an opener that finally arrived in the Southampton 2 and their sixth league clean-sheet of 20th minute. James Ward-Prowse’s cor- the season ensured there was no way ner from the right was flicked on by places. Norwich manager Chris on the attack. Marshall did well to back for Fulham, who were unable to Rodriguez, with Lambert rising at the Hughton kept faith with the team repel a 25-yard strike from Howson build on Monday’s 4-1 win at Crystal far post to powerfully head home. Norwich 0 beaten 4-1 at Arsenal last weekend, and then displayed electric reflexes Fulham 0 Palace. It is easy to forget that only Fulham had Stekelenburg to thank for but Mackay brought Kim Bo-kyung to thwart Howson and Hooper in three years ago Southampton were stopping Southampton doubling their and Fraizer Campbell into the quick succession. Mackay intro- plying their trade in the third tier, espe- advantage just two minutes later. Cardiff team that went down by the duced Don Cowie and Aron cially when Saints can win so easily Epitomizing the confidence coursing Cardiff 0 SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton have same scoreline at Chelsea. There Gunnarsson at the interval, but made their best ever start to a top- without their club record signing. Italy through the hosts’ veins, Rodriguez were chances for both sides in an Norwich continued to push, with flight season after climbing into third international Dani Osvaldo joined from surged forward, put the ball through open-ended first half at Carrow Hooper glancing a header narrowly place in the Premier League as Rickie Roma for nearly £15 million, but was Senderos’ legs, only to see his strike NORWICH: Norwich City remain in Road. wide. Lambert inspired a 2-0 win over unable to feature against Fulham due tipped around the post by the Dutch the Premier League’s bottom three Norwich left-back Martin Olsson However, they could find no way Fulham yesterday. Mauricio to a minor nerve issue. international. after being repeatedly thwarted by shot narrowly off target from 25 past Marshall, who produced a Pochettino’s side have been the sur- His absence saw Lambert return to Rodriguez nodded wide as Martin former goalkeeper David Marshall in yards, before Cardiff centre-back near-post block to thwart substi- prise package of the early weeks of the the starting line-up as one of two Jol’s side continued to struggle, with a 0-0 draw with Cardiff City yester- Steven Caulker went close with a tute Nathan Redmond and then season and their impressive form changes from the side that held Lambert hitting the post with a right- day. Marshall, who left Norwich in header and home goalkeeper John unleashed another excellent save shows no signs of slipping after a clini- Manchester United to a 1-1 draw last footed drive as Saints continued in the 2009, produced a succession of Ruddy had to save from Jordon to keep out a header from Fer in cal display at St Mary’s. weekend. Adam Lallana scored the ascendancy. Saints would not be saves to keep the hosts at bay and Mutch. As the half progressed, it injury time. The ball did find its way England forward Lambert opened equalizer at Old Trafford and was denied for long though and they went when the Canaries did find the net was Norwich who began to domi- into the Cardiff net amid controver- the scoring in the 20th minute and his almost involved in another goal after two goals up in the 42nd minute. five minutes on the south coast. The Another deep cross, this time from in injury time, through Leroy Fer, the nate, and after Robert Snodgrass sial circumstances at the death, but strike-partner Jay Rodriguez netted Saints captain dispossessed dawdling Lallana, found Lambert, whose loop- goal was not given. shot wide from eight yards, Jonny a goal was not given. After the second just before half-time to seal Philippe Senderos and went on to test ing header back across the goal was The result leaves Norwich third Howson threatened and Fer saw a Alexander Tettey went down Southampton’s fifth win in nine league Maarten Stekelenburg, whose parry nodded home by Rodriguez. With from bottom, although they trail goal-bounded volley blocked by injured, Fer elected to shoot rather games and take them above would have been slotted home by Fulham unable to breach that obdu- Peter Whittingham. than return possession to Cardiff, Manchester City, Chelsea and West Ham United and Stoke City on Morgan Schneiderlin were it not for rate Southampton defense, a come- A snapshot from full debutant who had put the ball out of play, Tottenham ahead of today’s fixtures. goal difference, while Cardiff, man- Fernando Amorebieta’s clearance off back was never on the cards and aged by another Norwich old boy in Gary Hooper tested Marshall and but although a goal was initially Their current form is an all-time high, surpassing even a strong start in 1983- the line. Rodriguez came closest to another Malky Mackay, climbed to 15th although Kim worked Ruddy from given, the officials eventually over- Victor Wanyama flashed a left-foot- goal with a spectacular overhead kick place; a point above the relegation distance, Norwich were soon back turned their decision. — AFP 84 when they eventually finished as runners-up to Liverpool. ed 30-yard strike just wide as in the second half.— AFP